By Tommy Acosta
Sedona, AZ – Having grown up in the mean streets of the Bronx there is one lesson we learn early on, and that’s don’t mess with the cops when they got you down, and outnumbered.
The beating of Tyre Nichols at the hands of the police preceding his death at the hospital could have been avoided if only he had the sense to not resist them.
People fail to understand that on the streets, cops are basically “God.” You can’t fight them. If it takes one, two, five, ten or twenty officers they will eventually put you down and hurt you if they have to in the process of detaining or arresting you.
In the Bronx we would fight amongst ourselves but when the cops came it was “Yes, officer. No, officer,” and do our best to look as innocent as possible.
People need to understand that cops on the street represent the full power of the state and government.
Their job is to protect the interests of the citizenship and maintain order, when they need to.
They have guns, clubs, handcuffs, armored vehicles and even attack helicopters if needed to quell rampant disorder.
On the streets police are supreme and fighting them, not following orders, will induce the kind of violence Nichols endured.
Had he just put his hands behind his back and followed the orders of the police arresting him, he would be alive today.
Instead, he chose to disobey them and thwart them from arresting him. One would think after the slow-motion choking death of George Floyd men of color would know better.
But he chose to resist a force that is supreme on the streets.
It’s not that cops are invulnerable or all powerful. It’s just that they rule on the streets. Only in courts are they humbled, where they have to deal with the state and lawyers that are not afraid of them in the halls of justice.
Watching the video of Nichols being beaten I found myself mentally pleading with the young man to simply give up, give the cursing cops his hands, go to jail and fight whatever charges rendered in court.
But he kept resisting, which only infuriated the cops further.
It could be argued that Nichols was in fear of his life and fought as if it depended on it. Sad. Maybe true. But there is no doubt if he had complied, he would still be alive and enjoying his family.
There will be demonstrations and people will express their anger but imagine how much worse the protests would be had the cops that beat Nichols been White.
No doubt these officers were brutal and merciless. Nor should good cops out there be lumped in the same category as them. They were crude as well with their language. They do not represent what law enforcement professionals should be. There is no excuse for their actions.
The officers involved in the beating will be made an example of, for sure. Everyone, politicians, pundits, police officials, will weigh in on this. The cops are going to face some serious charges in court. Justice will be served.
But to anyone facing police on the streets for any reason whatsoever, innocent or not, don’t fight them. Be pleasant. Comply. Be cooperative. Say nothing more than thank you sir or thank you mam and face them in court with a good lawyer where the playing field is level.
Whatever you do, don’t resist, be cooperative, and obey the law.
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17 Comments
Yup! always act polite, couteous and sumbmissive.
Make it good.
Lull’ ’em into a false sense of security and then, soon as they ain’t paying attention – run like the wind!
“The beating of Tyre Nichols at the hands of the police preceding his death at the hospital could have been avoided if only he had the sense to not resist them.” “Had he just put his hands behind his back and followed the orders of the police arresting him, he would be alive today.” Really! That was what you saw when you watched that video? Must be nice for you to feel that you have all the answers to keep something like this from happening. You should be ashamed of yourself for your blame the victim mentality.
The police officers who beat Nichols were enraged right from the get go. They were high on adrenaline and like out of control pit bulls mauling a baby they spewed their macho hate on their victim. But throughout the beating and between the cursing you hear them constantly ordering Nichols to give them his hands. For whatever reason, panic, fear, he did not. He fought with them and struggled. He broke free and ran, further pissing off the rabid wolf pack. The author is right. When confronted with mad dogs like these cops you get down on your face as quickly as you can with your hands behind your back ready to be cuffed. You might have to endure a few kicks but at least they won’t kill you like they did Nichols and Floyd and so many others that made the mistake of fighting them. There are good cops and bad cops just like there are good doctors and bad doctors, good lawyers and bad lawyers, and good and bad politicians. But of these it’s the cops that have the guns and lethal devices to kill you and get away with it. Black or White they will mess you up if you try to fight them. At least the cops that killed Nichols will no longer be out there maiming people with arrogant disregard and maybe other cops of similar persuasion will hesitate before killing anyone while making an arrest.
You still don’t get it.
I agree 100%!!!!. The cops were very unprofessional in actions and language. But, all he had to do is comply. And he would still be alive today.
This is certainly not a laughing matter and you are the first person I’ve seen to speak truth on the matter. 15 years ago Chris Rock made this instructional video on the subject. https://youtu.be/uj0mtxXEGE8
Nothing warrants the beating of a defenseless man or woman. Your blaming the victim in this case is just idiotic.
Not blaming ,just stating a fact . If you are a young pretty girl and you wear skimpy clothing and you get blind drunk and are at a wild party with a bunch of hockey players in college ,you have a good chance at getting raped . Did you deserve it ? ABSOLUTELY NOT ! Are the guys that did it guilty ? Absolutely ARE ! That doesn’t mean that you don’t tell your daughter “ don’t put yourself in that position “. You don’t tug on Superman’s cape ? You don’t spit into the wind . You don’t tug the mask off the old Lone Ranger and you DONT mess with cops.
This is a terrible take and very un-American. “One would think after the slow-motion choking death of George Floyd men of color would know better.” How about “one would think after the slow-motion choking death of George Floyd that all American citizens would realize the brutality that men of color face at the hand of police on a regular basis and demand, in no uncertain terms, that peace officers and police departments around the country do everything in their power to prevent something like this from happening again … but it happened again.” There, I fixed your asinine, un-American message.
What’s your advice to the Clive and Ammon Bundy’s of the world, huh? Is it the same advice you’re giving to men of color? Highly doubt it. Stop perpetuating this myth that police reign supreme and that citizens, particularly non-white citizens, should accept whatever fate police give to them on a particular day. That’s not how our systems are supposed to work. We do not live in a police state. This country was founded on mottos like “Live Free or Die.” We have UNALIENABLE rights as American citizens, including the rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Did you forget that? No American citizen should place a premium on obedience over the state’s fundamental duty to preserve our constitutional rights. Are you American?
Mr. Posey:
You are living in an illusion. Maybe on paper we Americans have inalienable rights but in reality it’s all bull dung.
You can attempt to train police to be considerate, kind and professional, to respect the rights of citizens, but on the streets they can do whatever they want and most times get away with it. Demand all you want that peace officers and police departments around the country do everything in their power to prevent something like this from happening again but certain types of cops will never change and you would think after Floyd’s killing and so many others since then they would have thought twice about killing Nichols. But they could not give a crap. Had he not died at their hands those cops would still be out there doing the same thing every day. There are a lot of should be’s on how our system SHOULD work but in reality the “is” of how it does not work, rules. Try as society might these type cops are real. They are out on the streets. Only in a court of law can they be stopped. If it comes to kissing a cop’s ass rather than be hospitalized the choice for any sane person, Black, Brown or White, is to comply. I would hope that if ever you should find yourself pulled over by a testosterone empowered cop that you would obey commands and not be mauled off to jail.
Well said like the racist you sound like, mister Acosta. Shame on you. Get your facts straight before you write another article. And you call yourself a journalist? Get yourself another job at Circle K. I hear they’re looking for work.
Sad to read your biased article in Sedona.Biz. It’s the last time I’ll read anything you try to write or go on that site. Do your research before you open your ugly mouth.
Dear Editor:
Thank you for telling it like it is considering so few people have the testicular fortitude to tell the truth. The message you sent is clear and forthright — don’t mess with the law because if you do they will mess you up. There’s nothing racist about your remarks You simply told the truth. Black or White, Purple or Pink either you comply or get your ass kicked when caught in a situation where the law is arresting you. The harder you make it to put the cuffs on you the harder they will come down on you no matter the training or racial bias of the arresting officer, if any. Like you said, there are good cops and there are bad cops like in every profession. I’m sure the cops that beat the young man did not want to kill him. But he died because of them and now they have to face the music and pay for what they did. Thank you again Mr. Acosta for telling the truth. I am White and you can bet if ever a law enforcement officer tells me to turn around and give them my hands, I will obey the law.
We’ll see when you start getting pummeled for nothing by a rougue Officer or two or three!
Policing isn’t kicking everyone’s arse! It’s about conflict resolution whereas you imply it’s all about the conflict!
Incorrect…all the police officers stuck him as he was being held down torturing him for pleasure. Don’t know why, but this was a hate crime that should be seen as murder in the 1st degree.
I had heard that video of the beginning of the stop was initially but then no longer shown. Apparently most of the above commenters only saw the end. No excusing the police for the extreme excessive force but Acosta speaks the truth. In my town, two killings of innocent people by police were against white victims, one of whom justifiably felt he didn’t have to comply with a bully, and the other who an apparently burned-out veteran cop profiled as a criminal instead of a mentally handicapped man on his way to work.
Paul, cant wrong just be wrong? Police are to serve and protect the public. Not judge, jury and executioner! Is it that hard to wrap your head around? You pull someone over. You have their car, license and know where they live? So beat someone to death for any infraction? This world only gets stranger!